Exhibition Opening

TRAINWRECK - A COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS BY IAN BURCROFF - 05/19/17

Otto’s Abode is pleased to present a month-long exhibition of busy and colorful acrylic paintings by Ian Burcroff. 

Burcroff received a BA in Studio Art from SUNY Plattsburgh and went on to receive an MFA in Painting from the University of Alaska. The seven paintings on display in this exhibition - which he writes: “...are approached with a spirit of improvisation...” - were created between 2012 and 2016 and depict the explorative and evolving nature of his work through repeated imagery and examination of color, space and form.

The exhibition is on view in Otto’s Abode at 6 Hamele Street in Wanakena, NY from May 2^nd-28^th 2017. A celebration of the exhibition – which is free and open to the public – will be held 5-8pm Friday, May 19^th.

My recent paintings involve a process of pictorial dissection. Each composition contains multiple visual fields that contain pictorial impressions of places and objects; metaphorically relating these to broader symbolic themes. 

Each painting is approached with a spirit of improvisation.  Very little is planned or drawn beforehand. The images consist of fragmented concepts both real and imagined that give a sense of movement within a two-dimensional space.  Information is layered and often stacked on top of patterns and color fields; creating rapid visual changes. Paint application differs in areas of the canvas; it can be additive or subtractive, painstaking or expressive.  Each painting is carefully “built” and is constructed almost like a puzzle.

The paintings evolve according to an individualized process that involves constant editing. This process relies on the intense hues, plasticity and quick-drying properties of acrylic paint.  Each painting has layers and layers of painted imagery under the finished composition.  This “editing” process feels natural to me, and seems to heighten the tension within each composition. Even the smallest painting may take a month or more to complete.  In terms of hours spent working in the studio, each painting usually has 50 hours or more invested. These compositions are not easy to create. The process is laborious and introspective; 10 paintings may represent 2 or more years of steady work. I paint one painting at a time until it feels finished.

Ian Burcroff

Artist in Residence

KATIE M WESTMORELAND - 04/28-05/02/17

In her Gateway to Wilderness residency proposal, visual artist Katie M Westmoreland wrote that she wished to - during several five day sessions throughout the summer - engage in conversation with the Adirondack landscape by creating "leave no trace" paintings made in response to the sun, moonlight and the spirit of the wilderness weaving meditation, dance and ritual.

During this first session Katie painted the duality of natural and artificial light experienced in the proximity of downtown Wanakena and Otto's Abode. Engaging with community members, exploring town and foot trails and reading over local and historical texts and maps Katie began to conceptualize future project goals and possibilities.

Returning for future sessions - she describes - are significant layers on her palimpsest of experience. We anticipate her return will be filled with as much curiosity, enthusiasm and engaging new work and this first session.

photograph of work in progress in Wanakena by Katie M Westmoreland
To see more of Katie's work go to: http://www.katiemwestmoreland.com/

Environmental Awareness and Action

EARTH DAY + PEOPLES CLIMATE MARCH - 04/22+29/17

On April 22nd, 2017 in conjunction with the 47th annual Earth Day Celebration and The March for Science members from the Clifton-Fine community planned to meet at 10am on the lawn accross from the entrance to the former J+L Steel Site for a fun and peaceful gathering and demonstration to get together and speak up about our commitment to protecting and celebrating the natural world around us. Friends, family, neighbors, pets were encouraged to hike, bike, carpool and get creative. The idea was to get together and show mow much CLIFTON FINE CARES.

On April 29th, 2017  in conjunction with the Peoples Climate March the North Country 350 Alliance organized an event in Potsdam NY "committed to protecting what we love". The aim was to take a stand to protect and speak up for all that you love against the darkness. There was a pinata, nature tatoos, costumes, music, action tables and more. Video documentation of the event can be found here.

Otto's Abode was in attendance at both of these gathering which were a part of a regional network of climate marches which happened either on April 22nd (Watertown & Clifton-Fine) or April 29th (Potsdam, Plattsburgh, Saranac Lake, Glens Falls, Syracuse).